Pump for type casting



Jan. 2O, 1953 J, oss 2,625,720

PUMP FOR TYPE CASTING Filed Dec. 16, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOR. afi flu,

BY m l Jan. 20, 1953 J, oss

PUMP FOR TYPE CASTING Filea Dec. 16, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I.,/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP FOR TYPE CASTING John E. Ross, Chicago, 111., assignor to International Newspaper Supply Corporation, Chicago, v 111., a corporation of Illinois 1 Y Application December 16, 1949, Serial No. 133,405

4 Claims. (01. 22-79) My invention relates to an improved pump for use in transferring molten type metal from a pot to a type casting mold.

In type casting for newspaper and other printing, it is necessary to transfer molten type metal from a containing pot to the type casting mold. Successful casting demands that the transferred metal be of predetermined temperature and that the amount transferred be adequate for the mold. Safety of personnel and economy dictates that the fiow of metal be readily shut off to avoid possible overflow and burns.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved pump for transferring molten type metal is achieved wherein a control arm located above the pot of molten metal controls the transfer. Flow discontinues promptly after the control arm is released, thereby providing a dead man safety feature to prevent accidental spillage of the metal. In addition, the apparatus of the present invention includes a rotatable delivery nozzle that may be adjusted at will to deliver metal back to the pot or to deliver the metal to a plurality of points over the sides of the pot. This feature permits the user to shift the nozzle to deliver metal to one type case while another is being placed in an adjacent position for filling. When the first cast is filled, the nozzle is simply swung to the new position over the second cast to deliver metal thereto. v

Further in accordance with the present invention, the pump is provided with an impeller located in an impeller chamber having an outlet passage closed off by a gate valve. The gate valve defines a metal escape port when in the closed position, thus permitting escape of any metal trapped in the delivery nozzle when the valve is closed. In the open position the gate valve closes the escape passage.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved pump suitable for delivering molten type metal from a pot to a type cast.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pump to deliver molten metal from a pot to a type cast and having safety means to discontinue metal flow when released.

A further object of the present invention is to provide. an improved pump to deliver molten metal from a pot to a type cast and having a valve automatically operable to release entrapped metal when fiow is discontinued.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pump to deliver molten type metal from a pot to a type cast and having a removable delivery nozzle that is swingable to any one of many positions to deliver the metal.

The novel features which I believe to be char-.- acteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a metal pot showing the pump of the present invention in elevation;

Figure 2 is a view like Figure 1 showing the pump in thetilted position;

Figure 3 is a crosssectional view of the pump taken along axis 3-3, Figure 1, showing parts in elevation;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View through the axis 4-4, Figure 3, showing the valve in the open position; and

Figure 5 is a-view like Figure 4, showing the valve in the closed position.

Referring now to Figure .1, there is shown at [0 a pot for molten type metal having an upper marginal lip Illa. The pot contains type metal l2 and isheated. by suitable means (not shown) to maintain the metal in a molten condition. This metal is to be delivered over the sides of the pot to to type casts in measured amounts to cast the desired printing plates.

The pump of the present invention includes a frame I having a pad- I la that seats on the lip Illa of the pot I0.- The pad I la defines a hookshaped member I 42) that threadedly carries the set screw IS. The latter is screwed tight to clamp the frame snugly in place.

The frame l4 has a forked portion I40 extending over the pot ill on each side of the pump -indicated generally at 20. The sides of the forked portion terminate in aligned holes Md, Figure 3, that receive thecylindrical portion of the headed and threaded pin-bolts l8, thus securing the pump [6 in position for rocking movementsabout the axis defined by bolts [8 whichis, of course, parallel to the surface of the molten metal Illa.

The pump is locked in any desired position of tilt .by the, arms l8aand l8b. These arms are pivotally secured to the opposite sides of the carriage. 20 by ,p-in defining bolts 22 which are threadedly received in the carriage 20 and have cylindrical pin defining portions that are received in the arms 18a and IBZ) to form pivotal The arms lBa and Nb each have an elongated slot 180, Figure 1. The slot on the arm l8a receives the adjustable lock bolt 24 which is threadedly received in the frame [4 and has a handle 24a by which it may be rotated to lock the arm l8a at any desired position relative to the frame M. The elongated opening I80 of the arm I8b receives the pin bolt 24b, Figure 3, which merely defines an arm guiding pin and does not lock the carriage in position.

The carriage l6 has an upwardly extending bracket portion Ilia which receives the motor 26;. The motor is attached to the bracket portion IBa by suitable bolts 27.

Immediately below and in line with the, motor 26, the carriage [6 has body portion 16b, shown, in cross-section in Figure 3. A pair of spaced bores I60 are provided in the lower end of this portion of the carriage. A pair of depending support rods 28 are snugly received in, these openings and are secured therein by the pins 28a, which extend through the rods. and the adjacent portions of the carriage [6.

At their lower ends the rods 28 carry the. housing 30, this housing being secured to the rods by the nuts 2% which are received by the thread.- ed end portions 280 of the rods. 28. The rods 2.8 are formed with reduced diameter at their lower portions 28d to be received in the openings provided in the housing 30 and to. form annular seats against which the housing 30. abuts, thus holding the housing in fixed position relative to the carriage [6.

The housing 30 defines an impeller chamber 30a at its lower end. This chamber is in communication at its bottom with the liquid in the pot l6 and at its side is in communication with the outlet passage 30b. As seen best in. Figure 5. the outlet passage 30b is located in the portion 30c of the housing 30 which extends sidewardly of the impeller chamber. This, portion of the housing is curved as shown to conform to the shape of the passage 3%.

An impeller 32 is located; in the impeller chamber 30a. This impeller is mounted on the shaft 34 which is received in a suitable bore 3lld'in. the. housing 36 and extends up through the body portion of the carriage I6 to the coupling 36?. At. coupling 36, the shaft 34. is connected to the shaft 26a of the motor 26'.

The shaft 34 is held in place relative to the. carriage l6 by the ball bearing 38; Figure 3, and" the sleeve bearing 40.

As seen best in Figures 3 and 5; the impeller 32 defines a pair of complementary helical surfaces 32a. When the shaft 34. is rotated by the motor 26, these surfaces lift the, molten metal. in the pot I to urge the metal from the bottom. of chamber 30a to the top thereof, thereby forcing the metal into the channel 30h.

Control of the metal flow through passage 30b is effected by the gate valve indicated generally at 4B. The housing 30 is cut out. in a rectangular gate valve passage or raceway 30c, Figure extending from the upper face of the housing to. the lower face thereof and passing through. the. channel or passage 30b as. seen in Figures. 3. and, 5. The gate valve 40 is of mating rectangular cross-section and slides in this passage to. open and close the passage 30b.

The gate valve 40. is provided. with a circular opening 4011 which mates with the channel 301) when the valve is in the lifted or open position shown in Figure 4'. When the valve is in the lowered or closed position of Figure 5, the open.-v ing 4a is below the passage 30b and. the flow of 4 fluid through the passage 30b obstructed. It then becomes an agitator.

The operating mechanism for the gate valve 40 is seen best in Figure 1. As shown, the valve is pinned at its upper end to the lift rod or link 42 which extends upwardly in parallel relation with the rods 28. At its upper end the link 42 is pinned to the crank arm M- which is attached to the shaft 46. carried by the carriage l6. The operating handle or arm 38 is likewise affixed to the shaft 46 and extends forwardly to a point near the delivery pipe 50. The volume of flow is adjustably' determined by the stop l! which bears against the.- adjustable bolt #5.

In accordance with the present invention, the valve. 40. is dropped to the closed position of Figure 5 when the arm 48 is released. This is accomplished by making the length and weight of arm 48', together with the length and weight of the crank t4, and the weight of the rod 42 and the valve til. suflicient to overcome any buoyancy of the valve 40. and link 42 in the heavier molten.

type metal and to overcome the frictional opposition to downward movement of the valve 40 when the arm d3 is released. Consequently, they valve. automatically assumes the closed position. when released and the possibility of accidental pumping. of the molten type metal is reduced.

Downward movement of the valve 40 and link 42 is arrested by the stop bolt 52 which, is threadedly received in the valve 40 at a point, where its head rests on the housing 30 when the valve is in the desired closed position shown in Figure 5.

In addition to the rectangular slide valve pas.- sage or raceway 36c, the housing 3% has an escape port 353' Figure 5. This port extendsv along the. valve passage from they fluid passage 3% to. the bottom of the housing 39 as shown. It is enlarged' at 30g to form a. seat for the toe portion 46b of the valve 46, with which it mates when the valve is in the open position shown in Figure 4.

As is described in further detail. hereafter, the escape port 30f prevents freezing of metal. in the outlet pipe and at the same. time permits normal pumping operations when the valve is open.

As seen best in Figure 4,. the housin 3.6. is threaded at 3.02) where. the passage 30b turns. upwardly' and reaches the upper face of the housing...

This threaded portion of the housing receives a.

complementary threaded pipe 5.4. which. extends upwardly a short distance and receives. the pipe;

coupling 56 to define an enclosed seat...

The upper portion of the threads. on the pipe coupling '56 is obliterated to, form a cylindrical bore. This bore receives the bottom. end 5410,, Figure 4, of the outlet pipe Ell, Figure 1. This pipe extends upwardly to a point above the seat of the pot l0 and then turns approximately" 9Q degrees to the substantially horizontal: portion 5011, as shown in'Figure l'. The portion 53b. terminates in the downwardly sloping nozzle 50c from which the molten metal flows.

The delivery pipe 50 is held in'positionby the bracket 58 which extends forwardly from the car'- riage' 16.. The bracket is: formed with a semicircular seat for the pipe 5!) and receives a mating- U -shaped member 53a which is held in place by the screws 58b. The parts 58 and 53 thereby define a rin to hold the pipe 58 in upright position. However, the pipe fits loosely in this ring so that it may be rotated at will to direct the molten metal in any desired direction. A. lug '51,. s

5,, against the bracket 58 to prevent rise oi. the pipe out of the socket.

The ability of the present structure to direc the molten metal in any desired direction is particularly desirable when type molds are cast in rapid succession. While one type mold is being cast, the next mold may be placed in an adjacent position so that it is merely necessary to rotate the pipe 50 to deliver metal in the new direction required for casting of the next type mold. This process canv be continued indefinitely to obtain practically continuous use of the pump and associated metal pot.

When the flow of metal through the pipe 50 is interrupted by valve 40, it is possible to trap metal in the portions of the pipe above the level of the metal in the pot 10. Since this portion of the pipe is exposed to the cool atmosphere, the metal can freeze and thus render the unit inoperative. This is prevented by the escape port 30b which defines an uninterrupted path for fluid flow when the valve 42 is in the closed or lowered position shown in Figure 5. In this position the shoe 4% is spaced from the housing 30.

The port 30) does not influence operation of the pump when the valve 40 is in the open position of Figure 4, since the shoe 4% then seats in the portion 309 of the port 30] to obstruct fluid flow therethrough.

When the valve 40 is in the lowered or closed position of Figure 5, the outlet passage from chamber 30 is obstructed. The impeller then causes circulation of the molten metal in the pot H], thereby mixing the metal and maintaining a uniform temperature in it.

In the view of Figure 2 the pump of the present invention is shown in a tilted position with the rods 28 at a substantial angle relative to the vertical. The pump is held in this position by the lock 24 and operates in the same manner as is described above. The ability of the pump to operate and be adjusted to the tilted position shown permits operation of the pump in shallow tanks and, in addition, provides a method of lowering the height of the nozzle 500 without substituting a new delivery pipe 50.

It will be observed that the carriage I6 has an axis defined by the opening provided for the shaft 34 and that the carriage is rockable about an axis transverse to this axis and defined by the pinbolts [8. The latter axis is parallel to the surface of the fluid in the pot Hi.

If for any reason metal does freeze in the pipe 50, it may be removed by loosening the bolts 58b and immersed in the pct 10 or otherwise heated to melt the metal and free the pipe.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will of course be understood that I intend by the appended claims to cover all variations and alternative constructions falling within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pump adapted for transferring molten type metal from a pot to a type cast, comprising an elongated frame having means connected thereto for suspending said frame with the bottom portion thereof submerged within said pot, a hollow housing providing therein an impeller chamber secured to the lower portion of said frame, said chamber having an outlet opening and an open bottom providing an inlet opening communicating directly with the interior of said pot when said pump is suspended therein, a

6. pipe terminating in a nozzle connected to said outlet opening and adapted to extend upwardly over the side of said pot, a gate valve means located adjacent said pipe to slide across said outlet opening and thereby control the flow of metal therethrough, said gate valve means including a slidably mounted gate member moving from open to closed position through a generally vertical plane, said gate member being linked to an elevating handle mounted on the upper portion of said frame and arranged thereon so that said gate member when raised in open position will be lowered' and closed automatically by gravitational force when said handle is released, a motor mounted on the upper portion of said frame, a rotatably suspended shaft driven by said motor and the lower end thereof extending into said impeller chamber, and an impeller mounted on the end of said shaft immediately above said inlet opening for rotation within said housing but in close spacial proximity to said inlet opening, whereby said impeller is effective in pumping the type metal through said pipe when said gate valve means is open while serving as a mixing agitator to maintain uniformity in said type metal within the pot when said gate valve means is in its normally closed position.

2. A pump and control valve therefor adapted for transferring molten type metal from a pot to a type cast, an elongated frame having means connected thereto for suspending said frame with the bottom portion thereof submerged within said pot, a hollow housing having an inlet and outlet opening secured to the bottom of said frame, said housing providing therein an impeller chamber and a passage extending laterally from said chamber to said outlet opening, a gate member slidably mounted in a generally vertical position across said passage adapted to allow metal to flow through said passage when said gate member is raised and to stop the flow therethrough when lowered, said gate member being linked to an elevating handle mounted on the upper portion of said frame so that said gate member when raised will be closed automatically by gravitational force when said handle is released, a pipe terminating in a nozzle connected to said outlet opening and extending upwardly over the side of said pot, a motor mounted on the upper portion of said frame equipped with a shaft extending downwardly into said impeller chamber, and an impeller mounted on the end of said shaft to direct the type metal through said housing.

3. A pump and control valve therefor adapted for transferring molten type metal from a pot to a type cast, comprising an elongated frame having means connected thereto for suspending said frame with the bottom portion thereof submerged within said pot, a hollow housing having an inlet and outlet opening secured to the bottom of said frame, said housing providing therein an impeller chamber and a passage extending laterally from said chamber to said outlet opening, a gate member slidably mounted in a generally vertical position across said passage adapted to allow metal to flow through said passage when said gate member is raised and to stop the flow therethrough when lowered, said gate member being linked to an operating handle mounted on the upper portion of said frame, a pipe terminating in a nozzle connected to said outlet opening and extending upwardly over the side of said pot, a motor mounted on the upper portion of said frame equipped with a shaft extending downwardly into said impeller chamber, and an 2&203209 impeller mounted on the end of sai-dshaft to. direct the type. metal through said housing, said gate member being slidably mountedwithin slots in the top and bottom of said housing, and also being provided with an opening through the lower portion thereof alignable with said passage when said gate member is raised, the lower of said slots being considerably largerthan said gate member to provide a drainage port forthe material in said pipe when. said gate member is closed to stop the flow therethrough, and. said gate member having an enlarged lower end; seatable within said enlarged lower slot. to close. said drainage port when said gate member is raised to open position.

4. In a pump and control valve structure adapted for transferring molten type metalfrom a pot to a type cast, the combination comprising a frame having means connected thereto for suspending said frame with the bottom portion thereof submerged within said pot, a hollow housing having an inlet and outlet opening secured to the bottom of said frame, said housing providing therein an impeller chamber and a passage extending laterally from said chamber to said outlet opening, said housing also being equipped with vertically aligned slots above and below said laterally-extending passage, a gate member slidably mounted in said slots and extending across said passage, said gate memberbeing arranged to allow the metal to flow through said passage when said gate member is, raised and to stop the flow therethrough when lowered, a pipe connected to said outlet opening, and extending upwardly over the side of said pot, and impeller means, located in said impeller chamber, for drawing molten type metal into said impeller flow therethrough, said gate member having, an.

enlarged, lower end seatable. within said enlarged lower slot to close said. drainage port when said.

position. JOHN R. ROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the gate member. is raised. to open file of this patent? UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 928,139 Lippstadt July 13:, 1909 1,458,042 Fletcher June 5, 1923 1,740,208. Stovall Dec. 17, 1929 1,930,293 Valentine Oct. 10, 1933 1,930,294 Valentine Oct. 10, 1933 1,943,605 Hartman Jan. 16, 1934 1,947,086 Hillyard Feb. 13, 1934 1,973,325v Berger Sept. 11, 1934 2,064,402 Bannister et a1. Dec. 15, 1936 2,109,832: Tear Mar. 1, 1938 2,127,962 Rosener Aug. 23, 1938 2,390,135 Tobias Dec. 4, 1945 2,468,704 Pippin Apr. 26, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date;

486,574 Germany Nov.-. 21, 1929. 85,274 Sweden Nov. 14, 1935 

